Mail-bag fastening.



1. M. WATSON.

MAIL BAG FASTENING. APPLICATION FILED SEPT; 23. 1918.

1,297,277. Patented Mar. 11,1919.

@Hemmx;

JAMES M. WATSON, OF BINGHAMTON, NEW YORK.

MAIL-BAG FASTENING.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed September 23, 1918. Serial No. 255,322.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JAMES M. lVA'rsoN,

citizen of the United States, residing at.

Binghamton, in the county of Broome and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mail-Bag Fastenings, of which the following is a specification. a

The invention relates to novel fastening means for 'bags, pouches and like containers the purpose being to provide means which reinforces the mouth of the bag, is adapted to hold the same open when placing articles into or removing them from the bag and which acts as secure and reliable fastening means for the bag when the same is closed.

The invention while adapted for bags and analogous containers generally is designed more particularly for bags or pouches designed for service in handling the mail. The invention while reinforcing the mouth of the mail bag provides for firmly securing the bag when closed, thereby preventing rifling of the bag or abstracting any of the contents thereof.

. tended.

Fig. 3 is a sectional detail on the line 33 of Fig. 1, the lock being omitted.

Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view of the collapsible reinforcing frame adapted to be applied to the mouth of the bag showing such frame on a larger scale.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and inclicated in the several views of the drawing by like reference characters.

The body of the bag, pouch or like container is indicated by the reference numeral 1 1 and may be of any suitable material, such as canvas, duck or leather. The closing flap 2 is provided at the ope'nend of the bag to fold thereover and close the same in a manner well understood. The outer edge of the closing flap 2 is reinforced in any way. A slot 3 is formed centrally in the closing flap 2 and is reinforced as indicated at 4. The slot 3 is adapted to receive a staple 5 which projects laterally from the inner side of a member of the collapsible frame. The bag 1 may be of any design and construction depending upon the specific use for which the same is intended.

The mouth of the bag 1 is strengthened and reinforced by means of a collapsible frame which comprises a plurality of hingedly connected sections. This frame is shown most clearly in Fig. 4 and comprises rear sections 6 and 7 and front sections 8, 9 and 10. The intermediate front section 8 is somewhat longer than the end or side sections 9 and 10, but the combined length of the several sections 8, 9, and 10 equals the combined length of the rear sections 6 and 7 when the frame is collapsed and the several front and rear sections come together. The intermediate front section 8 is provided with a slot 11 in position to receive the staple 5 which is attached to one of the rear sections, as 6. The slot 3 in the closing flap 2 registers with the slot 11 when the bag is closed and the flap 2 is folded over the mouth or open end thereof. The several sections comprising the collapsible frame consists of strips of metal of suitable length and width and the several strips or sections are hingedly connected in any manner, preferably by having matching knuckles at their meeting ends in which are fitted connecting pins. The collapsible frame is preferably located within the mouth of the bag adjacent the upper edge thereof and is secured to the bag in any substantial manner by means of rivets 12 or other suitable fastening means.

It is noted that the rear sections 6 and 7 of the reinforcing collapsible frame are of equal length hence, the hinged joint is disposed centrally between the extremities of the frame. The end or side sections 9 and 10 are of equal length which is approximately about one-half the length of the rear sections. The middle section 8 overlaps the hinged joint formed between the rear sec-= Patented Mar. 11, 1919.

tions when the frame is collapsed, but, as stated, the several front and rear sections come close together when the frame is collapsed and the bag is closed. When the frame is collapsed the front and rear portions of the bag are brought together and when the flap 2 is folded thereover the joint between the front and rear portions of the frame is closed and when a lock 13 is applied to the projecting end of the staple 5 the bag is made secure and access may not be had to the interior thereof without making detection possible;

The foregoing description and the drawings have reference to what may be considered'the preferred, or approved, form of my invention. It is to be understood that I may make such changes in construction and arrangement and combination of parts, materials, dimensions, et cetera, as may prove expedient and fall within the scope of the appended claim.

Having thus fully described my invention,

what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is A bag, or like container, having one of its sides extended to form a closing flap which is reinforced along its edge, and in which, at approximately a central point, is formed an opening, a collapsible frame disposed 30 within the mouth of the bag and secured thereto and comprising a rear member formed of two sections of equal length and a front member comprising a middle section and end sections of equal length, the middle 35 section having an opening about midway of its ends and a. staple on a real section and adapted to pass through the openings of the closing flap and front middle sections.

In testimony whereof I afHX my signature 49 in presence of two witnesses.

JAMES M. WATSON.

Witnesses HAZEL N, ENGLISH, TAYLOR LORD.

Gopies of this patent may he obtained for five centseach, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

